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1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

[b]John 21:15-19

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"[/b]

[b]Matthew 6:25-33

Do Not Be Anxious

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.[/b]

Mark 13:32 says, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

Interestingly, the disciples asked Jesus the same question just before He returned to heaven. At that time Jesus told them it was not for them to know the times or seasons which are in the Father’s authority.

Therefore, Jesus may come back tomorrow, next month, next year or 100 years from now. So what does this mean for you and me? Always be ready for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Watch and focus on Jesus because the devil is seeking to distract mankind from understanding the signs and closeness of Jesus' coming.

Culled from Bibleinfo.com

Heaven is Real, Hell is Real


[b]Luke 16:19-31

Parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”[/b]

[b]Matthew 25

Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids

25 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’

7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’

9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’

13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.
[/b]

End Time Sign - NATURAL DISASTERS
Luke 21:25-26 ...'and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.'

So what about this Biblical sign? Is this being fulfilled in our day more than any other day before us? Most definately. Just look at all the natural disasters we are getting now every year. Are the "seas and waves roaring"? Yes.

Tens and even hundreds of thousands of people are being wiped out from Tsunamis and floods, and men's hearts are certainly fearing what is happening to this world. In America in 2010, a record was set for the number of Federal Disaster Declarations given over a year. That number was 81. In 2011, that number was broken again, with 99 Disaster Declarations given, costing over 32 Billion Dollars. And 2012 produced another year of record breaking disasters. Dr. Robert Hartwig states ... "The number of U.S. disaster declarations has been trending sharply upward, particularly over the past 15 years." We are really seeing things happening in this world now with regards to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy today.

End Time Sign - FAMINE
Matthew 24:7 ...'and there shall be famine.'

Just look at the famine that has struck the world over the past 30 years. Thousands die everyday of starvation and according to [i]This news article [/i]global starvation is spreading and increasing causing 1 Billion people to go hungry around the world. Add to that the failed crops throughout the world because of extreme weather, and bees dying off in massive numbers, and we have a worldwide shortage of food on it's way.

Not only that, we have the likes of Monsanto who are poisoning the crops that are left!

2.4 BILLION people survive on less than 2 dollars per day!

The sad thing about this sign, is that the amount of food that is wasted in the developed world could feed the hungry! So think about those in need next time you are about to fill up your shopping trolley with food that will be wasted. The Bible teaches us that we need to be helping the poor and needy, by giving them of our bread and clothing. Rather than throwing away what we don't want or need.

End Time Sign - WAR
Matthew 24:6-7 ...'And ye shall hear of wars ... For nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.'

Many people say that this isn't a sign of the end times, because there have been wars since the beginning. Yes there have been wars since the beginning, but when you look at the frequency and intensity of wars, then it's plain to see that this is a sign of the times we are living in. During the 20th century alone, more people have been killed as a result of war than all previous centuries combined. This has resulted in HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of people being killed in wars like World War I, World War II, Russian Civil War, Congo War, Korean War, Vietnam War, Iraq, etc. Today, there are currently around 40 conflicts and wars raging all around the world (Source). And in 2011, armed conflicts greatly increased according to this report.

So is war a sign for today? Of course it is. But remember, we are not to take any of these signs ON THEIR OWN. Jesus said ... "when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near". (Matthew 24:33). Taking one sign like this on it's own will not prove we are living in the last days. All signs need to be fulfilled.

End Time Sign - WORLD PUSHING FOR PEACE
1 Thessalonians 5:3 ...'For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.'

Is this sign being fulfilled in our day? Yes. There is an ecumenical movement today which we were told about in end times prophecy that is uniting the world in an effort to bring peace. Churches and faiths and political leaders are uniting like never before in an effort to bring peace to this world. But this ecumenical movement is not of God, because we as God's people are not to unite with the world or any false religion (Amos 3:3, 2 Corinthians 6:17, Revelation 18:4). When they do declare "peace and safety" then destruction will come upon them (1 Thessalonians 5:3).

End Time Sign - FALSE CHRISTS and PROPHETS
Matthew 24:4-5,11 ...'many shall come in My Name, saying, I am Christ ... and many false prophets shall arise and deceive many.'

We've certainly had our fair share of false Christ's appearing around the world. Also, today we have many false religions proclaiming many ways to eternal life, like Roman Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Folk Religions, Wicca, and many other 'new age' movements. With false prophets like the Pope, Muhammad, Krishna, Buddha, etc., leading these religions.

We also have many false prophets and leaders in "Christian" churches, like the the prosperity gospel preachers and people like Oprah Winfrey leading these new age movements. And millions of people have been sucked in and deceived by these 'false prophets'. There are also many 'sheep in wolves clothing' in the world today.

End Time Sign - CHRISTIANS TURN AWAY FROM TRUTH
2 Timothy 4:3-4 ...'For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.'

This sign of the times has certainly been fulfilled in our generation. A great majority of professing Christians these days do not study the Bible much. Instead they just rely on their pastor's word as the truth.

End Time Sign - EARTHQUAKES
Matthew 24:7 ...'and earthquakes in divers places.'

The scoffers love to bash this one, but from the evidence available, it is clear that earthquakes are not only increasing in frequency, but also appearing in more and more "diverse places", which the Bible predicted.

Remember, these signs are to intensify during the last days, and that is exactly what is happening with earthquakes.

As of June 2015, there were around 2,700 earthquakes happening a month.

God is giving us plenty of warning through these events, and we will be without excuse if that day of Christ's return comes upon us like a thief in the night and catches us unaware. We need to heed the signs and get ready!